Columbia names new community relations director

The City of Columbia has hired Steve Sapp as its community relations director. The new job position starts in January, with a starting salary of $92,040.

Sapp has been working for the city for more than 30 years in multiple departments.

Earlier this fall, the City of Columbia approved changing the name of the public communications department to the community relations department. The change was made to reflect the expanded duties of the office, including strategic communications, listening and responding to citizens, telling stories with videos and photos, fielding media requests, and public outreach.

Sapp’s career with the city began in 1980 in the public safety joint communications agency, and from there he became a firefighter in 1989. He worked his way up through the fire department and eventually became a battalion chief and fire marshal.

Sapp has been the public information officer for the city’s public works department since 2012.